Wright, one of the first suburbs to bring high-density living to Molonglo Valley. Photo: Region Media.
Where do you buy when you want an affordable family home in a newer suburb, but you don’t want to live too far north or south? For many Canberra homebuyers in the early 2010s, the answer was obvious: the Molonglo Valley suburb of Wright.
Bordered by Denman Prospect, Coombs, Duffy and Holder, Wright has been popular with first-home buyers and young families since the first sod was turned.
Thinking about visiting or moving to Wright? Here’s what you need to know.
Molonglo Valley river. Photo: File.
History
Wright is the first of 13 suburbs to be built in Canberra’s Molonglo Valley – a large-scale development project that will eventually connect Weston Creek to Belconnen.
Construction is mostly complete outside of a few apartment developments awaiting development approval and blocks in North Wright.
Wright is named after poet, environmentalist and Aboriginal land rights advocate Judith Wright. In a similar vein, the streets of Wright are named after environmentalists and poets.
Shops and eateries
Morning Dew, Denman Prospect. Photo: File.
There are no local shops in Wright, but Denman Village is only a five-minute drive up the road. Denman Village has nine speciality stores including an IGA, Local Liquor, Capital Chemist and Club Lime. There is a shopping centre in Coombs, but the controversial development has just one tenant – Indian grocery and convenience store Ajijo.
A five-minute drive in the opposite direction will take you to Cooleman Court Shopping Centre, which has a Woolworths, Aldi, Target Country, chemist and various speciality stores and eateries.
Places of interest and things to do
The Molonglo Valley isn’t just popular with families. It’s also an appealing destination for anyone who enjoys getting back to nature. With this in mind, here are some of our favourite outdoor activities to enjoy around Wright:
- Explore the Molonglo River Reserve. The Molonglo River runs alongside Coombs to Wright’s north. The reserve is home to native plants and animals including the endangered pink-tailed worm-lizard and superb parrot. Best explored by foot, you’ll find it hard to believe that you’re in the middle of Australia’s capital city.
- Cycle at Stromlo Forest Park. Stromlo Forest Park is a world class sporting facility with mountain bike trails, running tracks and equestrian trails. But don’t think you need to be an athlete to enjoy the surrounds – Stromlo Forest Park and its surrounds are popular destinations for bushwalkers and nature enthusiasts, too.
- Have a picnic at Cotter Reserve. Wright residents can reach the Cotter Reserve in less than 15 minutes – one of Canberra’s best places to enjoy a BBQ, a picnic and a swim in the river.
Playgrounds and parks
Argus Park is in Wright. Photo: Region Media.
Wright was designed with active living in mind. It’s no surprise, then, that there are plenty of parks and playgrounds to explore. These include:
- Link Park (between Steve Irwin Avenue and Max Jacobs Avenue). Link Park has barbecue facilities, fitness equipment, a boardwalk and plenty of green space. It doesn’t have play equipment, but it’s still a popular spot for families.
- Argus Park (Peter Cullen Way). Argus Park is a modern playground with a spider web and outdoor fitness equipment.
- Wright Children’s Playground (corner Steve Irwin Avenue and Gornall Street). Better suited to children aged five years and older, Wright Children’s Playground has equipment including climbing cubes, a spider web and see saw. It’s partially shaded, too.
- Wright Park (corner Serventy Street and Max Jacobs Avenue). Kids too young to play at Wright Children’s Playground may enjoy the smaller Wright Park, which has firetruck-themed climbing equipment.
Getting around
Aerial view of Natura in Denman Prospect. Image: Independent.
If you live in Wright and have access to a car, chances are you have a relatively easy commute to work. It’s a fast run into Belconnen via Coppins Crossing Road; proximity to Tuggeranong Parkway makes getting to Civic or Tuggeranong a breeze; and suburbs like Barton, Deakin and Kingston are accessible via the nearby Cotter Road.
Aerial view of Tuggeranong Parkway passing near National Arboretum in Canberra. Photo: File
Wright is also connected to Canberra’s bike path network, and you can cycle from Wright to Cooleman Court without going on the road. A lack of off-road cycling connections makes it a little trickier to get to Civic and Belconnen, however.
Bus routes R10 and 66 service Wright.
Schools
Schools near Wright include:
- Charles Weston School in Coombs is one of Canberra’s newest public schools, opening in 2016. It caters for students from preschool to Year 6 and is a candidate school for the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program.
- Orana Steiner School in Weston is an independent school for students in preschool to Year 12.
- St Jude’s Primary School and Early Learning Centre in Holder is a Catholic school for students from preschool to Year 6.
- Mount Stromlo High School is a public secondary school in Waramanga for students in Year 7 to Year 10.
Why the locals love it
“Wright is a great suburb for families. There are three playgrounds within walking distance (perfect for my active toddler!), and my dog loves exploring around Mount Stromlo, which is almost right on our back doorstep. The traffic out of Wright during the morning commute, especially if you’re trying to get onto the Tuggeranong Parkway, can be a little bothersome; and we desperately need a good local shopping centre. But I’m happy we chose to raise our family somewhere central, in a house we built ourselves.” – Katherine, 30.
Quick facts
- Median age: 30 years
- Median weekly household income: $2323
- Median weekly rent: $400
- Houses vs. apartments: 34.3% houses; 49.6% apartments and 16.1% townhouses
- Suburb sales record (excludes land sales): $1.44 million in 2017.
Source: 2016 Census.
Wright is only 15 minutes from the Cotter Reserve. Photo: Region Media.
Want to find the latest real estate listings for sale and rent in Wright? Zango can help you find them:
Do you live, or have you previously lived, in Wright? What are your favourite things about the suburb? What advice would you give to people considering moving there? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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